The article contains a major error in fact. The following paragraph is not correct:
“Katz and Graves believe no matter the trust, and knowledge of the instruments, Belnap was a long shot in those conditions to keep the plane in the air. It takes 450 hours of instrument time to even qualify to take the test to be instrument-certified, Katz said.”
According to 14 CFR 61.65 (d), a pilot who applies for an instrument rating must have taken and passed the Instrument Rating written exam, have at least 50 hours of logged cross country time, and a minimum of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time.
There are other requirements, but having 450 hours of anything is not one of them.
I saw that as well; I’m a former flight instructor, which requires Instrument and commercial ratings first. When I finished at CFI, I had about 300-325 hours total time. I only have a little instrument time in “actual” conditions, and I do agree there is no way a private pilot with the minimum hood time is going to deal with spacial disorientation. Moonless night over the ocean sounds pretty much like something one should have an instrument rating and be current before attempting. I’ve experienced some of this with over the water approaches at night to small airstrips. Sad story, but one told way too many times before.
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The article contains a major error in fact. The following paragraph is not correct:
“Katz and Graves believe no matter the trust, and knowledge of the instruments, Belnap was a long shot in those conditions to keep the plane in the air. It takes 450 hours of instrument time to even qualify to take the test to be instrument-certified, Katz said.”
According to 14 CFR 61.65 (d), a pilot who applies for an instrument rating must have taken and passed the Instrument Rating written exam, have at least 50 hours of logged cross country time, and a minimum of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time.
There are other requirements, but having 450 hours of anything is not one of them.
I saw that as well; I’m a former flight instructor, which requires Instrument and commercial ratings first. When I finished at CFI, I had about 300-325 hours total time. I only have a little instrument time in “actual” conditions, and I do agree there is no way a private pilot with the minimum hood time is going to deal with spacial disorientation. Moonless night over the ocean sounds pretty much like something one should have an instrument rating and be current before attempting. I’ve experienced some of this with over the water approaches at night to small airstrips. Sad story, but one told way too many times before.